Reflecting on 2011

Well it's almost the end of the year and the end of the blog.  Since I didn't keep up with the diary or the original plan I haven't accomplished the mission to give this experiment a legitimate effort - so instead I'll write about what I have learned that has worked (or not) and maybe it will be of some benefit to someone else too. 

The Basics: 

Be sure to consume enough calories spread throughout the day to keep your metabolism up.  I discovered that I had actually been not eating enough food and was able to keep from experiencing highs and lows throughout the day by eating 3 to 4 times a day.

For me, eliminating dairy was HUGE since at the end of 2010 I discovered that it was the root of a variety of symptoms I was having including: excessive bloating, hives on my face and arms, swollen glands in my throat, and general aches in my joints. 

I found some new delicious ways to incorporate vegetables:  scrambled eggs and kale for breakfast;  kale leaves (vs. lettuce) makes a delicious and vitamin packed tuna salad; brussel sprouts steamed with cumin and red pepper taste great (I know!?!); broccoli greens, garlic & Braggs liquid aminos - yum!

Braggs in place of soy sauce is a healthier option and can also replace salt!

Olive oil is your friend!  Use it for everything from cooking to a replacement for lotion if you want to get away from perfumed products. 

Work is Still in Progress:

Drinking more water - the ultimate toxin removal system to flush waste from your body!

Not being a fan of exercise for the sake of exercise, I need to do fun things that require movement more often in order to build muscle and get in some cardio.  Dancing, hiking, walking to the mailbox, and basically just doing things the hard way as often as possible work for the moment until I can get back to enjoying the gym.

Getting a good nights sleep - very important for letting the body heal itself and restore reserves for the next cycle of activity.

What about the snowpants?

The snowpants do fit - which is a good thing because we've had about 5 feet of snow in the past week!  (Thankfully there are some enterprising young people off of school for the holidays to help out with the load.)

I weigh 153 today after the Christmas feast - and have stayed between 147 and 153 for most of the past few months.  While it isn't my target, I'm happy with where I am at for now and will keep implementing small changes towards a healthier lifestyle. 

What's Next?

I'm thinking about a new topic for 2012.  I'll let you know in the next few days and try to be more consistent with the postings, I promise!

Happy Holidays Everyone!  I wish you happiness and fulfillment in 2012!

Long Time No Hear! 149.8 at the Onset of Winter

I guess 14 lbs of weight loss in a year is nothing to be upset about.  If I do it again by next year I'll be 30 lbs. down and probably be able to maintain that weight since it wasn't a drastic program, but more of a lifestyle change. 

Items of note:  I eliminated dairy from my diet entirely and most white flour products.  I still eat rice but try to use brown rice where possible, sushi is my weakness!  I added a glass of water first thing in the morning to my routine, and try to eat something at breakfast even if it is just a piece of fruit to keep the metabolism up.  Eating too late is still sometimes an issue - but for the most part these changes have been painless and the benefits are well worth the adjustment!

It is good to be able to look back on this and realize where I was at in January - argh!  I haven't tried on the snowpants yet but I'm sure they fit this year!

156.0 - 7 Miles Today on the Bicycle - Why Don't I Love Fruit?

What is it about fruit that I have to force myself to eat it?  I wake up craving something refreshing - and I love lemon water - but to eat an orange, apple or banana first thing in the morning, not happening.  With the body's internal wisdom one would think that this would be a treat, and not a struggle.

I rode 7 miles on the training cycle today - up from 5 yesterday.  I break a sweat at about mile 6 so will shoot for 8 miles tomorrow and work into getting my legs back.  It's still pretty muddy around here so it will be a few more weeks of indoor cycling before I can pull the bicycle outside for a real ride - it's alright though, there's less traffic in the living room! 

On the days that I get up and exercise first thing - the whole day just goes better - how to make that a permanent routine is where I need the help!  HELP!  I could get up at 5:00am if I wasn't such a night owl - but I have always liked to stay up late especially when the night sky is so gorgeous!

155.2 Today - Heading to the Bicycle

Today's focus is on flexibility - after some well needed stretching I'm realizing that the range of motion we take for granted is important to keep up.  I used to sit on the floor and stretch while I watched TV - time to get back into that habit!  Stand tall and take full deep breaths and feel the difference in your energy level... it's the little things!

156.0 on a Saturday Morning. Regrouping This Weekend!

In a nutshell - I haven't been eating enough snacks, and have been lax on the early dinner schedule.  It is a common offense when the sun starts shining until 9:00pm.  This weekend is all about regrouping and getting back on track - starting with putting the Eat Clean recipe book back on the kitchen counter in plain view.  Next will be to make a copy of the grocery list to carry with me to the grocery store!

It does feel good to know that summer is around the corner - energy levels are higher and the fresh air is awesome!

156.4 - Better get cracking! The sun is shining!

I rode 10 miles on my training bicycle day before yesterday, yesterday's exercise consisted of pushing gravel off of the driveway with a push broom.  Scheduled a walk down the coastal trail today to get out and get some fresh air.  I have had some issues with eating breakfast first thing in the morning lately - today I had a banana, an egg and a piece of homemade wheat bread toast. 

My weight has gone from 157 to 159 to 156 since the return from Ireland.  I'm not entirely please with myself at this point, I'm sure it will improve this month!

Ahhh Ireland! THE BUTTER EXPERIMENT!

Wanting a new perspective, and a old-world experience I ventured to Ireland to experience things new and old.  With the only expectation being "the unexpected" I was open for trying new things and gaining new insight. It was wonderful!  The sights were staggering in a balance of days gone by, and modern day "keeping the pace" - a lesson in contrast and balance.

As this relates to diet - I was a bit concerned about sticking to the program, considering that the two highly touted items on the Irish menu are butter and guinness.  Preface this with the fact that I have gone through years of what I thought was a hormonal issue, to realize last October that once I eliminated dairy from my diet the hives and skin problems immediately healed, as such I have sworn off milk, ice cream, cheese and butter entirely! (Yes, it hurts!) On a hunch, I decided on day 2 to test the waters on my recently discovered lactose intolerance and see if I was equally affected by Irish dairy, so let's start with the best of the best - butter.

The first creamy taste of Irish butter was enough to have me looking forward this little experiment - Irish butter is better, much much better!  I can only describe it as the difference between drinking a sip of fresh cream, and sip of watered down 1% milk.  After my first taste, I felt a little apprehensive, waiting for the hives to appear on face and wrists - so I only had 1 piece of bread lightly spread with the oh-so-creamy and delicious Irish butter.  To my surprise, no unpleasant side effects.  I ventured on to slathering on the butter, then to the cheese, not just a bite, but a whole cheese tray - still no unpleasant side effects.  By the 7th day or so, I finally got brave enough to have cereal with milk - I have given up milk in my coffee, cereal, resorting to cooking with powdered milk, and using rice milk as a substitute otherwise.  The European equivalent to our shredded wheat, and a bowl of milk I thought for sure would bring out the hives.  Nothing.  AMAZING! 

You can imagine that on the last morning in Ireland, a tear in my eye formed as I was spreading my last pat of creamy Irish butter on my last piece of brown Irish soda bread, I savored every bite.  It leaves to question what really is the difference between the dairy products being served up on American tables, and the dairy served in other parts of the world.  It's well worth looking into.

As we lifted off in Dublin, I waved a sad goodbye to Irish butter as I affectionately embraced in my mind for the keeping, the green landscape dotted with fat grass-fed Irish cows and fluffy Irish sheep!  The whole experience had me back up to 157.2 when I got on the scale at home - I will be smiling the whole time as I'm jogging off those pounds!  No regrets!

153.2 Wohoo!

Broken the barrier finally - too bad the magic formula is shoveling horse manure!

155.4 Again - Must've Found The Maintenance Formula!

The way I look at this, once I do get to my target fitness level, at least I seem to have found the formula for maintaining the same weight! 

Today I will get some exercise shoveling the walkways - it's been gorgeous here and should be another sunny day!  I love springtime in Alaska for the longer days and the sun sparkling off of the snow - the cutest little girl told me the other day that it looks like diamonds.   

154.6 and coasting..... This is why the BLOG!

So, I've been slacking - too much coffee in the morning, skipping the snacks, and not enough water.  This is what happens when "life gets in the way" of trying to establish a routine.  That area of weakness that creeps in and causes me to temporarily forgo my goals.  Fortunately my pain threshold is getting lower, so I am less willing to put up with being disappointed in myself.

I'm starting off this week with a dose of cranberry juice (boil cranberries and drink the liquid - that's it!) to help boost the immune system and remove toxins, another good piece of information from La'Net, my healthiest friend, which she passed on from her brother.

After the plumber leaves today I've got to hit the grocery store to stock back up on fresh veges.

Someone - please send me a message or give me a call when you see me dropping out of the BLOG.  It's probably a sign that I need a little boost!

To all of our health and happiness!

Another week - 155.2

Lots of activity this week - I lost track of the meal schedule and am amazed that I didn't gain weight.  The elimination of white flour and sugar has got to be part of that - I can certainly feel a difference in my energy and my sleep by going off-schedule!

Working to have a better progress report very soon!
 

I Forgot to Mention...

At the beginning of all of this was the "snowpants incident". 

I can't believe that I forgot to mention that I have been wearing those very snowpants all week on my cross-country skiing escapades!  They are a little tight - but after I slept in them a few times they loosened up!  (kidding)

It may seem silly, but these are the same snowpants I've had since I was 18 - and they were loose back then.  Granted, I'm not trying to get back to my 18 year old body - just somewhere in the middle where I can feel confident that I am presenting myself the way I feel inside, and that my body doesn't limit me from doing things that I enjoy. 

We all deserve that!

And the winner is......155.8 (again)

Same story, different day.  Going skiing again tonight and will give the exercise a little time to kick in - the sunshine we have been having lately sure helps the outlook! 

Yesterday's downfall:  Oysters, scallops and white salad (parsnips, cauliflower, bleu cheese) at Kinley's. 

We ate too late and then I wasn't hungry this morning.  I've been off all day!

Ate Breakfast Before Weigh-In

Went skiing again last night - got up early and ate breakfast before I thought about weigh-in this morning so no news to report there.  The focus today is hydration - my horoscope even said to drink extra water today.  Strange but I'll go with it!

154.8 Today - X-Country Skiing - Cold But FUN!

I went cross-country skiing this morning with a friend, I am so glad we went!  It was great fun once I got outside even though it is was about 10 degrees (F) and chilly in the beginning, it is refreshing to get some our in the clean, crisp air and feel the sunshine on your face in the winter! 

Breakfast Today:  Eggs & Venison for breakfast on the way out the door - nice protein blast but not quite according to plan!

Lunch:  Soup, banana bread, coffee on the porch

Dinner:  Planning for baked chicken, salad, and quinoa 

YUM!

Fur Rondy Today! 155.8 This Morning - Doing Something Wrong...

Successes to Date:  Making breakfast a priority, eliminating milk & cheese  (Healthier skin, elimination of joint pain!)

Areas to Improve:  Implementing regular exercise, eating dinner earlier, getting the afternoon snack in the mix, drink more water

While I am happy with maintaining the 10 lb loss, it's time to kick this program into gear! 

I have a cross-country ski date with a friend this afternoon if it warms up - and as much as I despise exercise for the sake of exercise I'm afraid it is a necessary evil if I want to maintain 130 lbs vs. 155 lbs.  UGH!

154.8

Last night we had a photo shoot in the hot tub - big fun thanks to a few good sports who agreed to model!  I must say putting on the swimsuit was a bit daunting, luckily they weren't looking for bikini models! 

I've been back to focusing on eating foods with 1 ingredient - it seems to be working - despite my lack of following the 5 meal rule.  I have an easy time incorporating the breakfast, lunch and mid-afternoon snack before dinner.  The mid-morning snack often gets forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the day...

Must work on that.... 

155.4 Up Bright & Early Today

This morning the full moon beaming in the window had me up at 5:00 a.m.  I started the day with a glass of lemon water, then 1/2 cup of coffee about an hour later.

I can tell that although the numbers on the scale haven't moved much lately - the weight distribution on my body is different.  It looks as though the water-weight is gone, and what is left is a layer of "insulation", as we affectionately call it in Alaska. :) 

I've been putting the start of an exercise regimen on the back burner, and supplementing with extra chores around the house, but I can tell it is time to add more structure to the routine.  I know, I know, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!  I had those bicycle pants on a few days ago and ended up mopping the floors - but hey, at least the house is clean!

155-ish.... Missed the Weigh-In Today

Fighting sugar cravings all day today and got this in the Eat Clean Newsletter so thought I'd share it.

http://www.eatcleandiet.com/food_and_recipes/clean_recipe.aspx?Treats

Recipes for when you are craving sugar and want a healthy alternative that is still a treat!

Not very lively lately, I know...

155.2 - Stairs and More Stairs Today

Shoveled snow yesterday for exercise and climbed stairs all day today back and forth to the B&B rooms.  Looking forward to the week - we have guests coming in and lots of work to do!  

Scrambled eggs with cilantro and onions this morning, celery and almond butter for snack, homemade vegetable soup with mixed greens for lunch and dinner. 

Focusing this week on goals and health - taxes, travel, and investments.  A healthy approach to each day is definitely in order! 

155.8 Partly Sunny Skies - Time to Get Moving!

Longer days are making the body restless although summer is months away...  It is sunny and cold here today and it feels like a day to grab the ski's or snowshoes and get outside in the fresh air. 

I'll write more later - lots of things on my mind and lots to do today... 

157.2 Stuck in a Blizzard

Waiting for the snowplow to get here - it's the kind of day when I would eat a bowl of ramen noodles and a grilled cheese sandwich!  I've managed to avoid sandwiches by wrapping most anything I would normally put between bread in a few leaves of lettuce.  Halibut wraps are the best, but turkey and chicken are great too!

No appetite the past few days and having a tough time staying on the program.  I'm eating good foods - just eating too little.  I think I'll make some vegetable soup lunch. 

158.2 Haven't I been here before?

Heading back down the hill on this roller-coaster ride.  I'm sitting here in my bicycle pants with the best intentions of putting together the "trainer" to convert my road bike into an indoor training cycle. 

I fed the remains of the potato chips and crackers from the weekend festivities to the birds this morning - so we're back to only a house full of healthy options. 

I'm not hungry at all today but I'm going to open the book and use the recipes since my better judgment seems to have escaped me!

159.0 Code Red

So among other things over the weekend the battery died on the scale - just got a new one, and I know they don't recommend weighing every day but it helps me to stay focused as I'm making food choices.

I would say that the biggest culprit over the past few days causing weight gain has been the Wild Women on Wine party on Saturday night, which was a great time with fun and interesting people - and the Valentine's Day dinner last night.

CODE RED.... Red Meat and Red Wine - so good and yet sooooo bad!

I somehow managed to avoid the usual February 14th overindulgence in chocolate - so there's that to be thankful about!

In other news:  "Go Team Spence!" getting ready for the Iron Dog this weekend!!!

155.0

Yesterday's breakfast was coffee and fruit, lunch blackened salmon salad with olive oil and basil dressing.  Last night was an indulgence in a bottle of red wine, and a healthy dinner of venison steak, asparagus with grape tomatoes, and fried potatoes.  It all would've been perfect if I hadn't found the box of Christmas chocolates that were hidden in the closet....

The lesson:  Only keep healthy foods in the house.  Remove the temptations!!

154.6 Today - Wohoo!

So, apparently dehydration and water weight played a huge factor in the weight gain during travel.  I drank liquids all day yesterday and really wasn't hungry so didn't eat much - heading for the celery and almond butter snack now and then on to the next project!  

It might be time to pull out the snowshoes and get some fresh air!

157.6 After a Week of Restaurants and Travel

All-in-all gaining 2.6 lbs in a week on the road is much better than on past trips.  Just getting settled back in at home today and still need to re-stock the refrigerator with healthy options. 

Work, work, work today!

Home Again - Afraid to Step on the Scale in the Morning!

We got home from Chicago this afternoon, had as close to healthy food on the plane as possible.  A snack pack with surprisingly good crackers, nut butter, almonds, and a bar made from dates and nuts, no breakfast because our flight was so early. 

Sushi for afternoon snack, and venison and asparagus for dinner. 

I'm sure that tomorrow's weigh-in will provide proper motivation to get on track! 

Heading to Chicago

Heading to the airport - no scale in this morning's location but I'm sure I'll be able to give a progress report from Chicago!

Mixed Up Day

Yesterday went a little something like this....

Slept in, no breakfast, downed a cup of coffee then hit the golf course at around 1:30pm, snagged the only non-packaged food on the premises - hot dogs, skipped the ketchup in an attempt to make it somehow more healthy. 

Golfed a decent game, got a little exercise walking the course and walked back to the hotel.  Next meal - one of the best dining experiences I've had in a while - comparable to Napa Valley which is saying a lot!

Appetizer:  Pulled buffalo in Jack Daniels & blueberry barbeque sauce on a corn wafer
                   Scallops wrapped in bacon over pear chutney
          
Entree & Sides:  Buffalo steak seared to perfection (OMG!)
                           Iceberg wedge with bleu cheese
                           Asian green beans
                           Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet
                          
Dessert:  Deconstructed key lime pie (another OMG!)

Still dreaming about that dinner....

The scale said 155 yesterday, 158.5 today..... we'll see what tomorrow brings!

It's a small world afterall...

Jim's suit pants are getting loose on him, he had an extra 2 inches of waistband this morning so it's working! 

So far restaurants at Disney World have been accommodating, we found a PB&J shaped like a flying saucer that works pretty well for the afternoon snack.  With a few deletions and substitutions there is usually at least one "Eat Clean" option to be found on the menu.  Last night, waldorf salad and mahi-mahi for dinner which was right on track, but we were at an outdoor social event for a few hours before dinner and I had a glass of wine there and wine with dinner and woke up feeling bloated and achy this morning.  Am now trying to hydrate but when the water smells like chlorine it isn't very appealing, we'll be buying some bottled water today for sure!

I feel like I'm still losing weight, and my skin is starting to look much healthier so I'm loving that! 

I hope you are all enjoying the new recipes, send me some comments so I know how you are doing on the program!

Florida Finally !!!

Just made it to our room after an over night flight from Seattle to Orlando, and a good breakfast at our hotel.  We are in Disney World for the next few nights - should be lots of fun after a nap!  It is supposed to be 80 degrees here today!

It looks like there won't be any weigh-in until I get home, so this will be a good test to see how this program adapts to restaurant ordering and social events. 

We stuck to the plan at breakfast: Egg white fritatta, fruit plate, granola & they only serve turkey sausage - seems as though Disney cares about healthy options!

Will check in with everyone tomorrow!  Happy healthy eating!

155 Enroute to Orlando

An apple on the way out the door this morning, fed 1/2 of it to the horses on the way out!  A hard boiled egg, black coffee, and raisin toast at the airport, then water, pecans, and sausage on the plane. 

Quite an ordeal this morning getting out of Anchorage.  A mechanical issue upon takeoff at 7:30am, back to the gate, off of the plane without bags, rebooked for a 2:30pm departure, back on our original plane to get our carry-on luggage, and then decided to get back on that flight so moved from coach to first class. 

Sitting is Sea-Tac now getting pedicures and massages - ahhhhhhh!  That's one of the best ideas to come to airports in a while! 

I don't know how I'll do on the diet today, and I'll have to find a place to weigh, but will do a progress report either way!

Hang in there 'Nita - emotional eating is huge on the list for most people - it will get easier!

155 I think...

I weighed late today so this is the estimated weight.

Today is all about leftovers - turkey soup, greens, salad, fruit and whatever else is in the refrigerator! 

Looking forward to the weekend - enjoy!!! 

154.2 - A Little Closer to my $100

Jim and I have an ongoing bet that whoever loses 20 lbs and keeps it off for 1 month wins $100 from the loser.  I have to get to 142 and stay there to win the bet!

I had great food all day today:

Breakfast: Venison. oatmeal and an apple
Lunch: Venison, asparagus, and sauteed veges with rice noodles
Dinner: Stuffed peppers with ground turkey, veges, tomato sauce and spaghetti squash.

Lemon Water is my beverage of choice, that and rice milk

I now have 3 of my friends and family committed to trying the Eat Clean program too.  Go Mom, Anita and Jennifer - get ready to be happy and energized!!! 

Did I tell everyone that I can see my ribs again??

154.4 Today

I'm up early and heading to a workshop at the SBA called "Hot Topics for Women in Business in 2011".  It should be interesting, then at lunchtime attending another presentation on "LLC's in Depth".

So, guess I need to get off the computer and pack a lunch and some snacks this morning!

Have a great day all!

154.6 Today - Turkey Soup in my Future

Making home-made turkey soup today - one of my favorites!  It has warmed up to 32 degrees today which feels like a heatwave! 

I successfully managed to eat my breakfast during the meal prep this morning for our B&B guests so I'm off to a good start on the day.

I should have taken my measurements at the beginning of this program, it feels like I'm losing more weight than the scale shows - so I'm thinking that it is because I am losing fat and not muscle.

I'm going to sign-up for piano lessons as a treat to myself when I reach my size 8's again!  Small rewards are a great motivator and I've been procrastinating on learning to play an instrument for years.  :)

155.0 - Routine Remodel Required

It's so easy to get stuck into a routine that doesn't benefit you, this week my "old routine" is haunting me.  I've realized that serving a hearty breakfast of french toast, bacon, eggs and fruit juice for B&B guests leaves me eating my own entirely different breakfast at about 9:30 a.m.  A little late to be eating the first meal of the day - which consequently pushes my whole schedule back.  So, I am up typing instead of in bed asleep, because we didn't eat dinner until 7:00 p.m.  Don't get me wrong - I have always been a night person, but the food schedule has so much to do with the quality sleep, a good rule of thumb has always been to eat the last meal of the day at least 3 hours before bed time.  Looks like I've got to find a way to squeeze my breakfast in before I serve the B&B guests.

Other things I've noticed this week - after cooking without added salt, you can really taste the salt in processed foods.  I had a bite of breakfast sausage this morning and couldn't finish it because it tasted so salty - Roxy liked it! 

It was a very productive day today and I'll say it again, the energy level that this program has given me is worth it alone if I didn't lose any weight.  Thankfully, that is not the case!

Have a great day tomorrow!

Side Effects - Insomnia!

Wide awake and getting lots of work done.  I let the little beagle in (neighbors dog) who was whining at the door at midnight in the middle of the wind storm so she is cuddling up to Jim. 

I'll be sleeping fast tonight!

154.8 Wohoo!

Okay, that's more like it!  A busy working day today with B&B guests this morning and tax prep all afternoon.  Eating at home makes it much easier to stick with the plan though!

Just polished off a yummy steak salad made with venison, portabello mushrooms, scallions, red pepper, finely diced red onions, and an olive oil dressing made with mint, cilantro, basil, lemon juice, and liquid aminos.  Sooo good and good for you...

I've been feeling my stomach growling all day long, but not from hunger - just digesting.  Another 5 pounds and I'll be into a smaller size! 

Tomorrow it's off to the grocery store to re-stock, I'll have to try some new recipes this week - I'll let you know my favorites so you can add them to your list!

No Weigh-in Today - Ooooooops!

Today was an odd day - I had a healthy breakfast but really wasn't hungry all day and mostly drank water.

I sometimes feel that you just have to go with what the body wants or doesn't want when you are not feeling hungry, but I realize that skipping meals is the big metabolism killer so I'll be sure to get back on track tomorrow. 

I watched "Food, Inc." last night which will scare the beef out of anyone's diet - ammonia in our meat "filler" (translation hamburgers) !!!  Chickens whose muscles grow so fast that their bones can't keep or hold their weight..., the birds can't walk and end up wallowing around in their own, well, you know...  Even the farmed salmon are fed corn products - which are proven to make most of the "corn fed" mammals fat - hey, last I heard weren't we mammals?  No wonder the majority of America has a pooch around the middle.

Any of you following the blog - feel free to comment!

....158.4....156.4....155.4

Yeah!!  This puts me down 10 pounds from my highest weight ever which occurred on the fateful day of the snow pants incident!

I like it!

I can see Russia from the top of this plateau...

Stuck at 158.4 this week - at least it's consistent!  I lost my voice yesterday and it's been very cold out so I'm going with fighting an illness as the reason for the lack of movement on the scale.  Either that or the batteries must be dead!  :)   I'm sure the numbers will start dropping soon - until then just holding strong to the program and settling into the workout routine.  I am documenting the plateau in case anyone reading later goes through the same thing - don't get frustrated, just stay the course! 

I am optimistic about the future!

My Mom started the program today - "Cooler Plan 1" (accelerated).  GO MOM!

Hmmmmm - 159.0

A few trips to the sushi bar this week not serving me well after all!  And heading there again tonight.  Perhaps time to get more rigid with the recipe book - although it is 0 degrees here so the body tends to hold on to the fat to keep us warm!

Reflections on the Gym

I usually prefer to break a sweat by taking on an activity or chore that needs accomplished and also gives me a good workout.  Maybe not vacuuming with the Kirby, but certainly gardening, stacking firewood, raking or shoveling, painting, and pretty much anything to avoid "exercise for the sake of exercise". Nevertheless, there are some things we must do for the sake of our sanity and our relationships that are not always top on the list - the gym in the winter is one of them! 

The epiphany today was that it isn't that I don't enjoy the gym once I get there, the real issue is - you guessed it - the locker room! There's just something about seeing the person who rings up your groceries in their birthday suit that alters the whole shopping experience.  Of course, they say the best way to get over being nervous during a speech is to visualize the audience in their underwear...., maybe if I start rehearsing for presentations in the locker room I'll conquer both issues at once!  At any rate, I'm committed to hitting the gym every other day until the leaves are on the trees, so I'm sucking it up!  Bring on the biceps and the flat stomach!

Today's weight:  158.4 and holding steady

158.0 - Down 7lbs 2 weeks in

Well the second week of this program has had a lot of interruptions - but such is life, and the challenge is how to keep yourself on track and still deal with with day-to-day.  I've discovered that eating at restaurants is challenging, but can be accomplished with a few special requests and still stick to the program.  Salt is the hardest thing to avoid!

I haven't added the exercise program to the equation yet because I wanted to see just how much effect changing the diet alone would have.  We are going to start hitting the gym tomorrow so I'm anxious to see how the second half of this month progresses. 

I am overall very happy with this way of eating so far - the increased energy and the feeling of nourishing your body at every meal are both very gratifying! 

Fitness by Kirby

Thank you honey for the incredibly powerful and incredibly heavy vacuum cleaner, if I haul that thing up and down the stairs a few times a week I'll be out of my big girl jeans in no time!

Holding steady today at 158.2

BRRRRR, shivering off the weight, 158.2!

My fingertips are still numb from taking care of horses with the wrong gloves on!  I should know better - it was 8 degrees here today and sunny and beautiful, it can be deceiving, but hey, we don't have to shovel! 

Short and sweet tonight since it's late...

Today's Menu:

Breakfast:  1 hard boiled egg, steel-cut oatmeal with ground flax seed, 1/2 grapefruit

Lunch: Greens & Kale from this summer's garden, 2 small pieces of venison backstrap, black beans

Snack:  Pecans & Raisins

Dinner: Greens, Mung Bean with scallions, red pepper, celery and liquid aminos, turkey breast

Lemon water all day, no coffee or tea.

The sugar cravings have finally subsided.  Off to the store tomorrow to stock up on cilantro, mint and more fruit and veges!

Cravings... and 159.2

Today's meal scheduling went much better although I have been having cravings for something but I don't know quite what.  Lemon water seems to help so maybe it's just a need for more water, but I'm also wondering if I need to start taking the supplements recommended in the book.  I usually take liquid B vitamins a few times a week, and a chewable kids vitamin, occasionally some vitamin E, but I am not regimented with the supplements.

On the positive side my energy levels have remained high all day on this program.

Tomorrow I'm setting up the bicycle in the living room to start getting some cardio in, that should kick it up a notch!

Baby Steps... Hovering at 159

I slept in today so breakfast was late, then I had the mid-morning snack, and the afternoon snack, and went straight to early dinner at 5:30pm.  The meals were all according to plan but I missed lunch. Looks like I need to establish a "lunch hour" for myself.  Today I was on the phone and lost track of time, and I didn't want to eat lunch too close to dinner.  It's easy to see how a series of stacked seemingly inconsequential decisions can snowball on you.

The word for the day - "resilience".  We bounce back quicker than we think we can if we put the effort in. My self-inflicted nemesis is that I want to see measurable results immediately instead of focusing on the smaller elements of each success.  Why oh why are we so hard on ourselves???

I took a walk outside this afternoon, opting to walk to the mailbox instead of driving. The crunching snow and hues of pink and blue above the frosty treetops were a nice break from "Outlook".  It felt great to get some crisp, clean air my lungs in the middle of the day. 

When I had an 8 to 5 office job I used to walk on my lunch hour a few times a week - a good practice that I will work on reinstating this week!  Baby steps...

Leftovers, love 'em or hate 'em?

The Heritage turkey was great yesterday but now I'm over it!  I'm fighting a sweet tooth today. Tea with honey was the temporary fix... 

I didn't weigh this morning so we'll see what tomorrow brings!

159.4 - Turkey Dinner Tonight!

Ahhhhh, that's better!  Today we are cooking a Heritage turkey and will have lots of that to munch on all week.  I can't wait to try the waldorf salad.

Breakfast this morning was cantaloupe, steel cut oats with quinoa, rice milk, and 1 small piece of venison steak.  A good way to start a cold Sunday morning!  It's still pitch black outside so looking out at the city lights and enjoying a quiet morning. 

I just found out one of my best friends is signed up for the Iron Dog with her hubby - you go girl!  I'm proud of you and a little jealous - what an adventure!  

Happy Sunday Everyone! 

Too much rice - or too much salt yesterday!

The streak hit a speedbump today - back up to 160.4 this morning.  Not that I'm fretting over a small variance in a day - but consider this to be the direct effects of eating rice for 3 meals yesterday and eating some fairly salty veges at a Thai restaurant. 

Today I pounded the water so we'll see how tomorrow goes! 

Success requires proper planning...

158.6 and still dropping!  We thought the roasted duck last night might have sabotaged the day's efforts - but lost another pound as of this morning.

Today was a day of distractions and projects and I'll admit it was difficult to remember to eat 5 times today, I can see why packing your snacks for the day is a must here!  I also didn't take out food for dinner so ate last nights leftovers for lunch and dinner today.  Probably not a good idea!

Looking back, when we were kids there was always a fruit bowl sitting out which we were supposed to snack from if we got hungry, we didn't have any soda in the house and we ate home cooked meals every night, and our freezer was always stocked with moose, caribou, halibut, salmon and pork from the pigs that we raised each summer.  Moral of the story - put good food in your house and you will put good food in your mouth! Go Mom!   

Another recollection on the subject of how we learned to feel about diet and exercise:

My high-school didn't allow us to take PE if we had already had 2 years of it, so I did not have a Physical Education class my Junior and Senior year.  Coincidentally, I also began making some babysitting money and started eating out of the vending machine every day - I gained 15 pounds in the beginning of my junior year.  Kids need that stress release in school and the calming effects of exercise don't hurt either!  And I always wondered why the vending machines were loaded with candy and chips and not a single healthy option.  

But at least McDonald's is starting to serve oatmeal... 

Okay, jumping off of the soapbox!

Down another 1.5 pounds this morning... amazing!

This plan is awesome! 

It is fun to look forward to the next new recipe because they have all tasted so good.  I have had no cravings for sweets, and other than feeling more thirsty than usual it's been pretty easy to adapt so far.   Surprising because the food isn't seasoned with salt or sugar, the recipes are designed using alternate seasonings that are also great for your body. 

This week's kitchen discovery - FENNEL - smells a little like licorice, but gives a unique semi-sweet flavor to baked chicken recipes.   

I joined the "Eat-Clean Diet Newsletter" online today to get some more recipes.  The before and after pictures on that site (www.eatcleandiet.com) are fantastic - looking forward to the same! 

So far, I would recommend this plan to anyone in a similar situation who wants a permanent change and not a fad diet.  Apparently there is also an "Eat-Clean Diet for Men" which would be worth a read.

'Till tomorrow!

OATMEAL AND CHICKEN AND GREENS - OH MY!

Ate delicions food all day yesterday, and lost another 2 pounds - 161.6 today!

The egg whites are delicious if you scramble them with cilantro, basil, chives and cayenne pepper - a pleasant surprise!  Made the chicken marsala for lunch with mixed greens, and for dinner... venison backstrap, over a salad of lettuce, mint, cilantro, red onions with a dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.  YUUMMM!

Don't think I'll be posting the photo of myself but thanks for the advice Net!

163.5

Like watching the stock market go up and down - this number has tormented me more often than not this winter at 6:00 am.... 

Today, it's a good number because it means that I am on the downhill slide!

Here we go...

Changing habits means paying a lot of attention to what you are doing while you are doing it.  This morning started with a "wrong number" wake up call - which is a frequent occurrence in Alaska primarily because of our time zone, and secondarily because folks think that AK stands for Arkansas.

Nevertheless, now that I an awake I tip toe down the stairs to the refrigerator to get a big glass of water - start the day off hydrating, change number one.  I'm hoping that by keeping a cold pitcher of lemon water in the refrigerator it will be easy to switch to drinking water vs. juice or coffee in the morning.  Substituting whole fruit for fruit juice, and drinking coffee black will be a snap since I gave up coffee a few months ago but I'll start with just the water today.

Breakfast... The menu: Steel-cut oatmeal, fruit, egg whites and more water.

I usually don't eat first thing in the morning because it makes sleepy, so this will be another adjustment, and I'm frankly not sold on the idea of egg whites but I'll give it a try.  You can buy a carton of "whites only" at the store which makes me feel somehow less guilty than I would throwing away all of those baby chickens every day.

Today will be off to the grocery store to buy a basket full of clean foods and a few of the supplements that I don't have on hand.  I love that the "Eat-Clean Diet" book has grocery lists included and lots of recipes to get you started.

Adobo Rubbed Pork Tenderloin is looking pretty good for dinner!

Do these snow pants make my butt look fat?

On December 30th in keeping with tradition I pondered over the list of items that would alleviate the most stress from my life in the shortest amount of time and decided that New Year's Resolutions in themselves are something of a self-sabotage mission as they are rarely kept and lead to an unhealthy dose of self-loathing.  Satisfied with my wise decision to scrap the whole thing I went about a search for my seldom worn snow pants so I could hit the slopes in Alyeska for the first time this winter.  

This leads me to the reason I am sitting here tonight starting this blog...  

After ripping apart a few closets and arriving at the pile of winter gear I pulled on the "longjohns" and the wool socks, then got ready to climb into my favorite black snow pants only to realize the horror that yet another year of slowly accumulating 4 or 5 pounds had finally taken it's toll and I could NOT zip up the bibs of my snow pants, and not only that but once I pulled them up over my size 10 arse, there was no way of sitting down in the things - which pretty much rules out downhill skiing. ARGHHH! The day when my volume becomes a logistics problem preventing me from enjoying my life is the day it's time to make a serious change - so the New Year's Resolution is now back on the table, right in the middle, served up on a large platter of reality bites! 

Being one to want to take responsibility where it fits, I pulled out my dusty copy of "The Eat-Clean Diet" by Tosca Reno, and made the commitment to myself to follow this plan until the same time next year, keeping track of the progress publicly to ensure a successful mission! There you have it, I have 35 extra pounds that I picked up in my thirties, and when I reach 43 I vow to be back to the level of health I enjoyed in my twenties, not just for the sake of vanity - but because life is too short and precious to be sabotaged by your own habits. 

So, if you care to join along, I'll be posting my experiences as I go through the challenge of reshaping they way I grocery shop, prepare meals, and feel about food in general.  It's not anything that hasn't been done by many other people before me - but an important issue that many of us struggle with that seems to be much easier said than done. I'm looking forward to this journey and I hope it is helpful at best, and entertaining at the least!

And in case you're wondering - I had a great time on the slopes in my rain pants!